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About Volleyball Camps
In the volleyball world, there are four types of camps in different divisions:
- Elite Camps (Prospect/ID) which are the types of camps that give the best chance of getting the attention of a college program. These camps do not restrict attendance to anyone. These camps offer high-training for players and provide exposure to college coaches.
- Position-specific camps that revolve around your position and in developing the skills required for such. It focuses on position-specific training for all positions in the court. That is, right sides, outside hitters, DS, liberos and setters. These camps are for those who are looking to improve their personal and position-specific skills. This is a more training centered camp than evaluation.
- All-skills camps that provide a general gist of skills but are more towards young athletes. These camps are broken down into age and or skill level. Those being: beginner, youth, intermediate,and elite.
- Team camps are for programs to better improve the team’s chemistry and connection. These camps depend on the high school clubs’ coach approval to attend. Team camps are more centered towards recruiters and coaches look at the team compete against others. These camps help recruiters target athletes and have good identification.
The NCAA has certain rules and guidelines as to what camps an athlete can attend. These are:
- Attendance Restriction
- Camps and clinics must be open to any and all entrants
- Enrolled college athletes cannot enroll as campers at their own institution’s camp
- Prospective college athletes may be invited to attend camps as long as it is legitimately advertised and open to all
- Fee/Reduced Camp Admission
- Any individual being recruited by an institution may not be given free or reduced admission privileges to any camp or clinic or pay their expenses to attend
- Discounted camp admission may only be given based on objective criteria that is not related to athletic ability and should be published and available on an equal basis to all who qualify
- Example: registration prior to a specific deadline
- Group Discounts
- Can be offered to coaches and athletes as long as they are available on an equal basis to all who wish to use them
- Camp Advertisements
- All camp advertisements must state that they are open to any and all entrants
- Can be advertised in a recruiting publication that contains its directory as long as the ad doesn’t exceed certain requirements
- Recruiting Calendar
- Cannot be conducted during a sport’s “dead period” and prospective student-athletes may not be treated differently from any other campers
- Phone Calls
- Phone calls, emails, and faxes may be made to an individual or his/her parents legal guardians or coach as long as the calls relate solely to camp or clinic logisticas issues
- Media Presence
- Media may not be invited to attend or provide special access to camps or clinics and the prospective student-athlete in attendance. Media who does attend and are present at an institutional camp or clinic can only be located in areas open to the general public and are not allowed on the playing field, during or at the conclusion of camp
- Benefits
- If offered benefits, these must be legitimately advertised and made available to all attendees
- Awards
- Can receive awards as long as there is an understanding that the cost of such awards is included in the admission fees charged
- Impermissible Camp Activities
- The institution cannot engage in activities devoted to measuring agility, flexibility, speed or strength for evaluating a prospective student-athlete
- College Athlete Camp Employment Rules
- Current college athletes may be assembled and used from demonstration purposes during a camp as long as it is outside of the playing season and within the weekly hour limitations
- Current college athletes participating in a scrimmage during an institutions camp or clinic cannot be observed by that institutions coaching staff
- Those college athletes with remaining eligibility may not conduct their own camp and a coach must provide the compliance office a list of student-athlete employees and their rate of pay prior to their employment
- Prospective College Athlete Camp Employment
- High school, preparatory school or two-year college athletes or any other individual being recruited by an institution may not be employed at any camp or clinic
- They can be employed after the athlete has signed a National Letter of Intent or the institution’s written offer of admission and/or financial aid.
Camp Tips:
- In camps, the coaches are not just looking at your individual skills and talents, but how you are able to adapt to different people, scenarios, and atmospheres.
- Since volleyball is such a team-oriented sport, coaches will be on the lookout for athletes that work well with others.
- Before going to a camp, make sure you reach out to the coach or coaches you are interested in so they know to watch you play.
- Camps and showcases do come with a cost, so think ahead of time which ones you can or cannot attend!
- Most camps and showcases are available for anyone to register and attend, but there’s no need to attend all of them. There are elite showcase camps and sponsored camps that can only be attended with an invite, and these are for top-performing athletes.
- Don’t stress out if you aren’t invited to a private showcase or camp; this does not mean you are not a top recruit. Coaches will invite a lot of athletes to their showcases and camps as this helps to finance the program to keep it running. If you do receive an invitation but will not be in attendance, remember to politely decline the offer and try to stay in contact for further communication.
- Many colleges host their own camps and showcases on campus. It is always good to be on the lookout for those if you have a specific college in mind.
- Remember: college coaches are also evaluating your parents at camps! Many parents attend camps and showcases, and coaches and recruiters notice them. Their attitude and actions also have an effect on how coaches view the recruit and can have an impact on their recruiting process.
- Parents are always welcomed to be involved, but there is a limit as to how involved they should be. If they are too involved to the point that they are doing all the work for their son or daughter, then recruiters will take note of that. Since they are being watched and evaluated, they need to be careful with their actions.
- In addition to recruiters watching over the parents, recruiters also notice how approachable, friendly and coachable you are. All of these will play a role in the recruiting process.
Camps to Put on Your Radar:
College Coaches Showcase Camp (CCSC)
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